Monday, June 25, 2012

Salutation #139

A nation who
has no remembrance of its own past
is like a man who
have lost the use of his legs.

A nation who
has no love of its own present
is like a man who
have lost the use of his heart.

A nation who
has no vision of its own future
is like a man who
have lost the use of his mind.

If we are this nation, what for are our hands?

What for are our hands, my people?

- selah -

What for the memory but the light?
What for the light but the life?
What for the life but the hope?
What for the hope but the love?
What for the love but the labor?
What for the labor but the peace?
What for the peace but the LORD?

And what for the LORD, our King,
but the victory of all these good things,alleluia to God on high, my people!

What for our independence if not our freedom?
What for our freedom if not our peace?
What for our peace if not each other?

What for are our hands, my people?

- selah -

Who has given us our nationhood but God?

Alleluia to God on high, my people!

Did any of us choose to be born with such a soul?

Who can take this spirit in our hearts away?

Alas! Only we, my people, you or I -
by our unremembrance, by our impenitence,
by our unpeaceful, and false ways.

So let us, as the stars,
in this time before the dawn,awaken Now.---<--@

Prayer to God as First Defender of the Republic

Look upon us this moment,O LORD, God above all things,and abide with us nowin our necessary struggleas First Defender of this Republicto obtain for our peoplethe remembrance of Thy peaceand the blessings of Thy freedom.

Bless our one Filipino nation,O LORD and Giver of all good things,each and every Filipino heart,that yet believes with convictionin this endeavor of Countrythat we may by our own willingnessbe transformed by Thy abundant mercy.

Tarry with us in the darknessO LORD and Sovereign of all nationshelp us, teach us, bless usthat we may prosper in Thy sightand in Thy grace and in Thy counselsremain secure in Thy commandmentswalking upright in Thy waysthat we may become the lightthat You want this nationand every nation to beupon this, our midnight world,so much in need of Thy presencelike the daybreak twilight isso much in need of Thee.

For us, Christians, we must add:

This we humbly implorein the Name of Jesus Christ,our most loving Lord and Savior,

AMEN.---<--@

For all the rest:

This we humbly implore,O LORD and one common Creatorof all things, seen and unseen,